Chester & Merseyside Branch
Summer 2022
Sankey Canal – Serious water shortage
Chairman’s Report – Summer 2022 Now that normality has returned after the pandemic we can look forward to a summer of getting out and about on the waterways of our region. I was particularly excited about our Regional social event that took place on 11th June with a trip on the Emmeline Pankhurst in Manchester. We cruised from Castlefields along the Bridgewater Canal to Pomona Lock and descended into the Manchester ship Canal and ventured to Salford Quays and to Mode Wheel Lock where we turned round and had a wonderful buffet meal whilst we circled around the Quays before returning up Pomona lock and back to Castlefields. It was always one of my goals to tick off as having done Pomona lock (down & up!). the only disappointing aspect was that only 20 people attended the event when many more could have been accommodated and enjoyed the day. The main event for the branch during the summer is the celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Chester Canal in 2022 over the weekend of 29th to 31st July 2022. This is in the final days of planning and the event will be held at Tower Wharf Basin, Chester. Entertainment and refreshments will be available throughout the weekend, details of which are located in other articles within the Packetboat. The one big disappointment however is the lack of boat numbers currently booked in for the event so please, if you are boating, and in the area that weekend please come and support us. Even without a boat, again it would be great to see you over the weekend. Other notable achievements of the branch since the Spring newsletter are the siting of a new information board at the top of Northgate Locks, Chester and an award the branch received from the Chester Civic Trust. Both these achievements are covered in detail within this edition of Packetboat. Jim Forkin ~ Chairman ……………………………………………………………………………………... The socials dates below have been booked at the Boat Museum Café. 7.30 October 11th
Speaker to be confirmed.
7.30 November 8th
Ray Buss on the Chester Canal
7.30 December 13th Christmas Special. Gillian Bolt on Canal du Midi
Sankey Canal Restoration Water supply failure. For more than forty years Fiddlers Ferry Power Station has provided a supply of water to the southern end pf the Sankey Canal. When the canal closed and was officially abandoned in 1963 the canal was left to decay, the section of canal above Bewsey was taken over by the river authority and Sankey Brook was diverted into the bed of the canal to alleviate flooding in the Dallam area of Warrington, this meant that the section of the canal through Warrington , Fiddlers Ferry and on to Widnes was left to run dry. Around this time Fiddlers Ferry Power station was being built at the same time as Warrington and Halton Councils were creating the Sankey Valley Linear Park and the power station offered to supply the canal with water. About five years ago it was rumoured that the power station was to close and turn off the water supply, however during the decommissioning process water continued to flow into the canal. In the middle of March 2022, Warrington BC announced that the supply of water it had been providing from one of the power station lagoons had been turned off and would not be resuming, leaving the canal to face the consequences. Now the water levels are at a critical state where boats are resting on the bottom and the wild life is beginning to suffer, plans are being made to remove the fish stocks. Halton BC, say they are still committed to restoring the canal in Halton, and are looking at making good some of the canal infrastructure whilst the water levels are low. As you can see from this magazine cover photo; water levels are getting lower by the day. Sankey Viaduct. At the beginning of March, Groundwork employed a contractor to clear trees and unwanted vegetation from both sides of Sankey Viaduct to open the view of this Grade One listed Structure. Once the contractor had finished, volunteers moved on site to tidy up the area. During the early part of this project there was a suspect bomb scare when a member of the public out walking his dog found what he thought was an unexplored bomb, this turn out the be an old, discarded fire extinguisher. Swing Bridge Removal. At the beginning of April, Warrington Council removed the swing bridge at Sankey Bridges, this bridge had been the site of many SCARS work parties over the past thirty years. We had endeavoured to keep the bridge looking tidy and in reasonable condition, however the ravages of time had taken its toll on the iron girders below the deck and the council deemed it to be a health and safety hazard, so it had to go.
Civic Trust recognises the work of Inland Water Association At its annual “Good Bad and Ugly“ awards hosted by Chester Civic Trust in March an event with a little humour held to commemorate a year in tourism and promotion of the city , the Chester and Merseyside Branch of the Inland Waterways Association(IWA) was honoured with a special award for the role it played in the awarding of the status of Inland Heritage Port to the city . The team at the IWA led by John Herson, played a major role in the achievement of the first such award in the UK. The Civic Trust were especially pleased that the work done helped raise the profile of its old port area describing it as “an unappreciated part of Chester” The Inland Waterway Association (IWA) has campaigned for the restoration and maintenance of all of the UK`s navigable rivers and canals since its formation in 1948 and the Chester and Merseyside branch saw this new award sponsored by amongst others the government backed National Historic Ships organisation as an ideal way of contributing to good maintenance and protecting this historic environment. Jim Forkin (Chairman IWA Chester and Merseyside) said “Britain in the early part of the C20th abandoned and lost too many of its historic waterway assets and even with the growth of public interest in waterways we still have to restore and protect what we have left. This Historic Port scheme is an excellent way of showing to the public and the powers that be, the need for both protection of remaining artefacts and vigilance in the face of any new developments in these environments.
L-R Christine Russell, John Herson, Ann Farrell, Jim Forkin
Frankton Locks Opening Times In 2019, the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch campaigned to encourage more boats to visit the Montgomery Canal by extending the opening times for passage through Frankton Locks. After a 10-month campaign, agreement was reached with CRT to extend the previous twohour long afternoon slot to four hours in the morning, effective from the end of March 2020. At some point in 2020, without consultation, the closing time was brought forward by an hour so the locks were open from 09.00 to 12.00, which is how they remain at present. Booking passage through the locks is mandatory, and there is a minimum stay of one night on the Montgomery with a maximum stay of 14 nights. Over the last 18 months we have been hearing anecdotal reports that, since the change in opening hours, fewer boats are staying overnight near the current limit of navigation at Maesbury. The Branch is seeking help from boating members to let us have their views on the Frankton opening hours to see if any changes would be both possible and helpful. It can then take up the issue with CRT from a position of knowledge. It would be particularly helpful to know: 1. Have you cruised the Montgomery Canal in the last few years, and if so, when? 2. How many nights did you stay on each visit? 3. On each visit, did you stay overnight at Maesbury, Queens Head, Weston Arm, or somewhere else? 4. Do the present Frankton opening hours of 09.00-12.00 influence your choice of where to stay overnight, and in what way? Please send your replies and any additional comments and information you may have to shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk.
Jim Forkin
Editors Musings We have reached that time of the year when we are about to decide where to go for our summer cruising. We were looking at the Macclesfield canal, but I understand it is closed at the moment due to lack of water. We have our 250th in Chester basin on the 29th to the 31st July so why not do some local cruising on the Shroppie. This way we could include a trip up the Monty, as this is something we have not done before. We have done the Welshpool section a few times, easy launching from the slipway there, but have not done the section from Frankton Locks. We are planning to go straight from home in Chester down the Shroppie then through Hurleston locks joining the Llangollen canal and the on to the Montgomery. Very close to home you say, but in view of the cost of petrol it would save a longer journey towing the boat across country. I know we did the trip to Llangollen last year, but that was in May, so we will try it in August and see if it is still as popular with boaters from around the network. We spent a weekend in May at the Moira Canal Festival on the Northern section this year and had a wonderful few days catching up with fellow boaters, there were 22 boats on the short section which is in water. The festival was very well attended drawing record crowds over the weekend at the end of May. The public arrived in their hoards (see photo below), and the takings over the two days exceeded the committee’s expectations meaning, more money to go towards the missing section. I would like to be able to see a lot of boats cruising to Conkers basin, as we have done, not sure it will happen in our lifetime, but we live in hope. Jeanne Smith (Olive).
PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES CHESTER BASIN BOAT GATHERING
Saturday 30th July
10.00 Public Opening 11.00 Historic Port of Chester Walk Led by Marie Layng, Chester Blue Badge. 1.00 p.m. Official Opening conducted by Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West & Chester Council 1.30 p.m. Bryan O’Ryan (+ friends) folk, country, Irish, 60’s and old time singalong songs 3.00 p.m. Pole Dancing Demonstration By Aspara Dance Company 3.30 p.m. Bryan O’Ryan (+ friends) folk, country, Irish, 60’s and old time singalong songs
Saturday Evening Entertainment 6.00 to 8.30 - BBQ (Kindly organised by Grants of Church Minshull) 7.00 to 10.00 - Music by “Wet the Tea” (to be held in the marquee)
Sunday 31st July General Opening times 10.00 Public Opening 11.00 Chester Waterways Heritage Walk Led by John Herson, IWA. Musical entertainment throughout the afternoon provided by John Thurby
There will be a Tombola and a Raffle stall; and we have no prizes. Members are requested to please donate as many as possible. Bring them to the site on Friday 29th and find the stall.
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OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE
President.
Ron Evans
Branch Chairman
Jim Forkin jim.forkin@team.waterways.org.uk
Minute Secretary
Ann Farrell ann.farrell@waterways.org.uk
01270 650054 M. 07803 928929
Treasurer, Social Sec & Assist Planning Jim Mole jim.mole@waterways.org.uk Officer 01606 40955 M. 07580 162355 Publicity Officer
Les Green les.green@waterways.org.uk
Editor Packet Boat
Jeanne Smith jeanne.smith@waterways.org.uk 01244 382058 M. 07746 955931
Planning & Navigation Officer
Geoff Gittus geoff.gittus@waterways.org.uk
Membership Secretary
John Herson john.herson@waterways.org.uk
Merseyside Liaison
Geoff Gittus geoff.gittus@waterways.org.uk
Scars Liaison
Colin Greenall colin.greenall@waterways.org.uk
0151 605 1094 M. 07808 859751
01744 731746
M. 07944 101162
Chester Liaison
John Herson
Bridgewater Canal Liaison
Ian & Vera Short ian.short@waterways.org.uk
Committee Members Vacancies
john.herson@waterways.org.uk
vera.short@waterways.org.uk